Protective covering



Aug. 24, 1965 R. L. WARE 3,202,193

PROTECTIVE comme Filed Feb. 5, 1965 INVENTOR Riom/s Wre United States Patent O 3,292,193 PROTECTIVE COVERING R. Louis Ware, 2108 Middleford Road, Northfield, Ill. Filed Feb. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 256,402 1 Claim. (Cl. 15G-52) This invention relates to a protective covering and a method of making the same. More particularly, it relates to a protective covering comprised of a plurality of bags fastened together.

Many present day commercial iirms such as construction companies as Well as various individuals engaged in work such as farming, receive considerable quantities of particulate materials like cement and fertilizer in bags of one form or another. In most instances these bags are disposed of as soon Aas their contents have been emptied. Heretofore, there has been little need for keeping such empty bags and in fact, their accumulation and the necessity for their disposal in and of itself is a nuisance and problem.

There quite frequently arises a need for ya simple inexpensive protective covering such as to protect from the Weather building materials, farm machinery, etc., that are stored` outside.` The same rms and individuals who receive a considerable number of bags `also are likely to have need for protective coverings particularly for temporarily protecting goods from rain, snow, etc. Farmers, for example, use protective coverings to shelter machinery, cover small plots of produce crops, and the like, While construction rms likewise have need of them for such uses as protecting equipment and building materials and for covering partially finished structures. Another possible use for protective coverings is as a decorative cover for a Wall or other surface.

It is an object of this invention to provide a protective covering formed by fastening together `a plurality of bags after their contents have been removed.

A further object of the invention is to provide a protive covering having an attractive design formed by fastening together a plurality of decorated bags.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bag having external fastening means disposed adjacent the periphery thereof to facilitate attachment to other bags or objects.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive method of making Ia protective covering.

Generally the invention broadly embraces forming a protective covering comprised of a plurality of empty bags with each bag having fastening means thereon to enable the bags to be connected together to form a continuous surface of an area determined by the number of bags that are connected together. The bags may be fastened together by means such as mechanical fasteners, snap fasteners, adhesive material, heat seals, etc.

Other and more specific objects `of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description that follows.

The invention having been generally described, preferred specific embodiments will 110W 'be discussed in detail with reference to the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a protective covering constructed according to the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view of a snap fastening device taken on line 2*-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary plan view of a bag showing the masking strip partially removed to expose an exj ternal adhesive fastening material that may be used for connecting bags together into a protective covering; and FIGURE 4 is a sectional view similar to FIGURE 2 3,292,193 Patented Aug. 24, 1965 ice showing a snap fastening device attached to only one wall of the bag rather than both Walls.

The protective covering, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10 in FIGURE 1, is constructed of a plurality of bags 11 fastened together to form acontinuous surface. The size of the protective covering 10 may be readily altered simply by varying the number of` bags 11 that are fastened together.

Each individual bag 11 is comprised of a front wall and a back wall joined together along their edges. Of course, there are many bag constructions which incorporate expandable Satchel-type edge folds to allow for full opening of the bag to hold the particulate material which it is to contain and it will be appreciated that the invention can also be applied to this type bag construction.

Preferably, generally rectangular bags are employed although differently shaped bags such as triangular bags may be utilized. The bags may be constructed of any convenient material such as cloth, paper or plastic.

Exterior fastening means are provided on each bag adjacent the periphery thereof to facilitate attachment of the bag to other bags or objects. The fastening means may be of various types. In the case of mechanical fastening devices, such as the well known snap fastener, a male element on one bag interlocks with a female element on another bag to fasten the bags together. As shown in FIGURES l and 2, the mechanical fastening devices may be conventional snap fasteners 12 comprised of a male element 13 on one bag 15 which interlocks with a female element 14 on an -adjoining `bag 16. Although in FIGURE 2 the male and female elements 13 and 14 are shown as secured through both the front and back walls of bags 15 and 16 respectively, it will be understood that the elements may be fastened to only one Wall of the bag as shown in FIGURE 4. This is particularly advantageous to avoid the material of the bag tearing from the fastening element when the bag is lled with particulate material such as could result with both Walls of the bag being held by the element as is shown at 13 and 14 in FIGURE 2.

Adhesive means also may be employed to fasten the bags together. In such `an embodiment, as shown in FIG- URE 3, an adhesive strip 17 is provided adjacent the periphery of each bag 11. Preferably the adhesive material is pressure sensitive and it is covered by an easily removable masking strip 1S which protects the adhesive material while the bag is filled and handled for its original intended purpose. When it is desired to fasten two emptied bags together, the masking strips 18 are simply removed and the edges of the bags placed in overlapping relationship with another bag edge to adhere thereto or two exposed adhesive strips 17 on adjacent bags may be placed in face to face contact to tirmly join the abutting bag edges. Pressure is then applied to the overlapped edges to firmly fasten the bags together.

Each of the bags may be provided with a decorative pattern on at least one Wall thereof so that, when used alone or in combination as connected with other such bags, yan attractive and pleasing appearance will be presented. The opposite wall of each of the bags may contain other pertinent information such as identication labels, advertising, etc.

The method of making the protective covering essentially comprises arranging a plurality of bags provided with external fastening means adjacent the periphery thereof in overlapping relation and fastening the bags together with the fastening means. Where plastic bags are employed, they may be fastened together by placing the bags in overlapping relationship and thereafter heatsealing them together along the intersection formed where each bag meets an adjoining bag.

Preferably the covering is constructed `of empty bags which normally would be disposed of after being emptied. The instant invention thus provides a way of making beneficial use of such bags rather than dispose of them. If desired, however, the bags used in constructing the covering may be filled with another material such as, for example, an insulating material.

The protective covering of the instant invention is particularly adapted for use as a shelter device in the manner of a conventional tarpaulin and also as a decorative covering for a wall or other surface. When used in the latter manner, the protective covering may be fastened to the Wall or surface by nails, staples, or other conventional fastening means. For this purpose each bag additionally may be provided with reinforced areas adjacent the periphery thereof to receive the nails, staples or other conventional fastening means.

While the invention has been described with particular reference to preferred specific embodiments, many other modifications may be made by persons skilled in the art, without departing from the scope of the invention defined by the following claim.

I claim:

A protective article covering of variable size comprising a plurality of bags formed of flexible sheet material with each bag providing apredetermined surface covering area bounded by the bag perimeter,

said bags being arranged with the peripheral edges of adjacent bags overlapping such that a covering having an area substantially equal to the sum of the predetermined surface covering areas of the plurality of bags is formed,

each of said bags including a front Wall and a back Wall joined together along their edges to provide double walls for said covering, v

and means disposed around substantially the entire perimeter of each bag fastening the overlapping edges of adjacent bags together,

said means comprising an adhesive material normally covered by an easily removable masking strip, said strip being removed to attach said bags together.

References Cited by thc Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTSV 23,582 4/59 Johns 13S-1 274,736 3/83 Detrick 150-1 390,519 10/88 Ranlett 150-52 1,158,356 10/15 Wilson 135-1 1,399,305 12/21 Molnar 229-27 2,087,046 7/37 Rutan 150--52 2,191,704 Y 2/40 Bennett 156--230 2,513,448 7/50 Brunnzell 150-52 2,841,198 7/58 KWake 15G- 2.1

FRANKLN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

GEORGE O. RALSTON, Examiner. 

